Fur feeding machine



'-NOV. 7,-1944. i P- sC-gHULTz-E 2,362,315

FUR FEEDING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M l IUI INVENTOR BYY NOV. 7, 1944.- P SCHULTZE 2,362,315 FUR FEEDING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet T1- vEl.

INVENTQR .Paul )S'c/zuze l BY I I v v. f ATroRNE No 7 1944 P. scHuLTzE 2,362,315 i FUR FEEDING 'MACHINE wom;

f f Y Z Nov. 7, 1944. i P. SQHULTZ 2,362,315

FUR FEEDING MACHINE Filed Marcha?, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNE Y. PatentedNov. 7, 1.944 t FUR FEE- I )ING MACHINE 'Y PaulI Schultze, Danbury;` Conny, as-signor to Doran Brothers `Incorporated, Danbury, `.Conn.

Application Machin, 1942, Serin No. 435,060?

(c1. nie-7s) 16` Claims,

This invention relates to a'fur 4feeding machine.

vide a furfeeding'machine which is` simple,

.thoroughly practical, and durable in use. .An-.v-

other object of the above'invention is to provide a device of the above character ythe manufacture 'of which will be economical, both from the standpoint of labor and material used. Another object is to providea construction ofthe labove character inwhich the circulation of the'fur within the hopper of the machine is prevented. A further object is to provide a construction of `the above character which will supplyfur at a uniform and regular rate. A stillfurther. object is toprovide a construction of the above character in which the fur in the hopper is preventedfrom matting into balls. LOther objects V.Will `be in partobvious andinpart pointed out hereinafter.

The inventionaccordingly consists in the4 fea-I tures of construction, combinations of elements f and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in thestructure tok be hereinafter described and the scope o f the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

One of the Objects offthi'sinvention Iis to pro- "parts throughout the yseveralviews of 4the drawings.... 1 f

' In orderto set'forth a4 morecomprehensive A understandingof certain features of this `invendifficulties haszbeen circulation of the fur fin the .hopperv of the"machine caused by theV apron lWhichxremoves the'` fur therefrom. f, This circula- Ition works the fur bers'together causing them to adhere toeach `other land form matted fui' balls.

- -structions have been'iused to prevent-the feeding of these mattedballs out ofthe hopper but these havevnot beenisuccessful as some of the smaller `ones are'always fed by. the apron to the former or In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possibleembodiments of this invention,l

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical section. on -a qslightly enlarged scale, of the machine shown in Figure l; Figure 3 is a vertical ksection of a portion of the machine taken from the line 3 3 of Figure '8,

the apron being removed;

Figure 4 isa perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of thefur feeding apron and certain partsassociated therewith;

Figure 5 is a sideelevation, on an enlarged scale. of portions4 of the sidel of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side' elevation.` of `a portion ofY the machine taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 8, the housing covering the sprocket gears being removed I Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 6 of portions of the wiper brush and its mounting upon the machine;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 8 8 of'Figure 6 with machine being broken away; and,

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken through .the machine at the point indicated by line 9 9 onFigure2.

Similar-reference characters refer to similar parts of the blower'. -Thie balls which are fed to the former or blower are not separated into loose bersgby the blower and'result in theformation of lumps vor diherent qualities of felt in `various portionsof the bat during formation thereof, gcausingfthe bat to lack uniformityof texture; j'y I f Further difficulty has been experienced because many of the constructions heretofore :used 'to prevent the feedingof furballs out of the hopper I have interfered with the rate at which theffur lis fed by the apron so that a uniform andeven I supply of fur is not fed to thevblower or former.

Another `disadvanta'geous Afactor resulting from there is a material lossy of fur resulting? from the formation of the fur balls. Itis accordingly `another object of this .invention to provide afur 'feeding' machine which-'will overcome `the above- `mentioned difficulties, as well as others. y

Asbest shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fur feeder includes' a hopper; generally indicatedV at lo, the fur'in which is pressed into Contact with Il vand gate I 2'to preventthe circulation vof fur and the formation of matted balls oi' fur in the hopper, all asiwill'be 4described fully hereinafter. Referring now to' Figures 1 and 2, the hopper i. has a pair of'side wallsl vI 5y and I6vand an arcuate- Ashaped bottom-l1. The'side `Walls and bottom .are secured 'te a framework, generally indicated 'A Iny the past many different types of conthe framework of the machine. The gate is `of slightly smaller size than the opening in the top of the hopper, and as the sides of fthe hopper are parallel to each othergiand .as the radius of the curve of the bottom is slightly .greater the legth of gate l2, gate l2 is free to move downwardly within the hopper *to .press 'the fur therein against apron Il. The area ofgate l2, however, approximates that of the crossse'c'tion `'of the :hopper-,f and `saiplura'lity1f ism-all fholes .l2c extend through the gate to permit air to escape `-`from fbeneath Ithe gate `and prevent .iur `:from

being blowm around =the edges of zthe @gate fas zthe lga'te .moves'fdownwardly :into the ."hcmperg VApron i l` l lise'of thesendless .-typezan'diis mounted on 1a pair-fof cylindrioallly shaped .rollers 2 `and 23 FCEi'gures 2 'and 58). ".'Il're @apron :includes a 'plurality of wooden stats i2! =(Fi'gure 41) rwhich fextend transversely across 'and `are v:individually Ssecuredftoa fieiiibledaeltzl.inanyrsuitable manvrnerf-such as sby riveting. 'The -juxtaposed:sides im!! fthe islats fare tapered :so that the ajouter ltransverse Hedges fof the asides are spaced ra rsub- -stantial 5distance apaizt. iprovides :spaces .1

-betweenfthe islatswvhenithebeltzisinra -flat `plane, tthus 'preventing lfur entering nfhetween `the :slats :during operation f'of fthe maoh'ine cfrom interfer- :ingV 'withthe movement IJ'f zthe :slats 7with #respect as viewed in Figure 2, is prevented. Furthermore, movement of the rods in a plane transverse tothe planes of the vertical portions of the apron is prevented because of their position in the recesses formed by the grooves in the slats.

Rods I4 carry pins Ma of substantially greater length than apron pins 26. These pins extend outwardly into the hopper substantially per- Apendicularly to the portion of the apron against which the fur .fis pressed sand well beyond the plane 'inwhih'the tips o'f the 'apron lpins lie so that when the machine is in operation, they hold the stratum of fur adjacent the apron stationary fand the f-apron .pins shear the fur from this stratum. The pins .-in each rod I4 are prefer- .ablysimilalymositioned and the pins Ma are progressively spaced .closer together upwardly along lthe rods so that the rplns adjacent the 'secured to framework 12D.

Cil

fioieah other. '111e ed-ges 11H inetweenthe outer J.40

vsur'failuzes' 'm2 of fthe slats and 'llthe fsides EH10 .are 4traveled :at -substantlally a l"i" `tangle f-to outer surfaces I 02. Pins` sare itted finto the yueveled y'edges of ithe Tslats and are preferably perpendi- :cular l'to theseedges. 'Thetpinsfin successive slats y"amiin.staggered.:relation eachother, I.andea'ch pin *iis iin `longiftudinal v:isitlignment fon -lthe v#apron with pins in Iother Islats. Thus, vlongitudinal frows of Zpins :extend tupvtardly from the es'lats `at :acute :angles to fapron hl rduring fthe .'.travel aof "the :apron :upwardly throughrthe nopper. Furt-hermore, lfthe -slats are foo shaped that fex'ing tirrelt 15, :zas zit .moves lover a'ollers 222 rand -23 fCFigure f2). is imimpeded.

'.'Eachslatiifras efseriesfofigrooves JUS ifitigures 7 4 and 8) therein, the grooves-.in reach slatbeing similarly positioned. grooves rprovide remesses extending :lengthwise fof :"the' iaprrm finto Ywhich ra :series of :pin :carrying rods -14 dit. :As themods il 4 are: allvsimllar infeonstructionfspeci- :ffm descriptioniof the srods lhe flimite'd :to 'the one. shown iin iEigure 2. :rod 'extends throughout -the flength of ithat rportion of :the .apron .tracing sthe rhopper :and .is rsecured -at its flowerferxd :to athe fframework f2f0 fofY the machine #and thegboltzisiadjustable *longitudinally byureason of :flock :nuts provided ,':thereon fto Mperrrrit fad- .Justmentzof 'rod M itoward iorzaway :from .the slot :in the apron -formed Iby :the :severa-l aligned1 ugrooves :in lthe slats. The vupper fend 1of zthe rod scurves over za-nd iterminates .-adiaicent fthe :upper .-leftf'hand side auf :apronp'roller .222 .(Figure 2). Because tof the 'upper Lcurved. portion rof the .'rod, movement tof this portionzof "thefrod :to Y.the right, e

.top of Athe hopper are considerably -closer to gether than those at the fbottom. This lessens y.the rate-:of feed of fur'firom dahe'hopper progressively from the bottom to the top and vinsures the emptying-of allaportiorrs-ofthe:hopper'at the :saine time. 'lliis :prevents T the formation offan -'empty 'space :in -the itop of the lhopper within "which urmightacirculate. v

'The'..bo'ttom apron roller 23 Figure 21) is mount- .feii upon shaft 227 (Figures f1 fand l2) 'which iis ":ournaledfon-thefendsofthe -'arms 28u oi ay'o'ke fgenerally'indcated at'f. .-Arnrs 28a hare secured Ito shaft 29 whichv forms fthe centen-portion of the woke, andsha'ft 29 'is pivotally 'mounted "on 'the-'mal'iinefby'fbearings 3U Figure 1) which; are A lleverA member '32 secured fto fthe fcen'ter vportion 'of shaft 2'9 4and 4'eiozends upw'ardlytheretrom. VA bolti'l Ipivotally 'connected =to *framework '20 extends: through a s'l'o't in the upper lend' of lever rn'iernb'er "32, Vand by tightening itheinut*33 (Figure 4T2) lonthe outer fendof bolt 33 l ,leverjmerber l32 is 'moved ytoward the machine. yBecause rmeirnber '32 lis securedl to sh'a't'f its movement rocksfyoke 23 in bear- *lngsSlL and lshaft?! mounting -rollerl23 is fmoved downwardly Thus', by tightening nut A33, the

fbe adjusted *to any desired uamount.

As maybe seen inFigure 2, the portion of'apron Il positioned to the right of 'rollers "22, and l23 is pressed 'toward the left -by the Weight of the 0 10a-'d of the :fur in fheeopper and or 'gate l2.

To r'support the apron in a vertical position, a plurality Aorchannel:shaped supports "3`4 '(Eigures 1, '2 "andm vare positioned yadjacent 'the back .of theobelt. These supports extend longitudinally 'of the fbelt substantialllyromrller `22 to roller `23,'their hat sides Tacev'the belt, and their ends y, 35 Vare bent upwardly (Figures "1 and 2) -to.-pre

vent them from contacting the belt. 'The supportsare secured to aseries of angle -bars 36 (Figures l, 2 and 9) which extend transversely across 'the machine and are connected .to uprights 31a, and 'lbTFigureA'm of 'framework 2'0 .inany suitable manner. Thus, the supports form alongi-- the feed rate of the machine. r

' for raising and'lowering platform 40 vand motor 39 may be provided, such as rocker 43,r toggle' f link 42, and handle 41. Handle 41- may be used to pivot rocker 43 on the shaft'of motor39,"and

'this movement acting through toggle lirik- 42, which is pivotally connected to rocker 43 and Vto the framework of the machine, servesto raise and lower "the motor, and its platform. By thus lowering and raising the motor, shifting of the belt 44 (Figures 1 and 5) between the variouso'- grooves (Figures 7 and 8) of pulleys 45and 46 is permitted in order that the rateof drive of shaft 49- (Figure 5) to which' pulley 46 is keyed may be easily and quickly changed to control Referring now to Figures 1 and 7, shaft 49 extends transversely through the machine and is mounted in bearings 50 and 5I (Figure 7) secured to the framework thereof. The wiper brush I3 is mounted on the shaft and prefer-` ably consists of a pair of cylindrieally shaped to shaft 49 in any suitable manner. Each of ,these members has four wing-shaped portions j v53 extending outwardlytherefrom in quadrature@ and brush carrying membersv 54are detachably connected to the wing-shaped portions by screws 55 (Figure 7) so that the brush carrying members may be vreadily changed.` The tuftsf54a` on these brush carrying membersar'e so posi" tioned that each tuft is in alignment with and acts upon a longitudinal row of apron pins 26. This insures the removal of all of the furfrom each pin as it passes 'the wiper brush.

As best shown in Figures 6`and 8, a studfshaft 56 is journaled in the framework 20 yof themachine directlyabove the shaft 51 to which apron roller 22 is keyed.v Shaft 56 is mounted in bearing 59 and has a 'large sprocket gear 69 keyedv to its outer end. Gear 60 (Figure`6) is drivenvby sprocket gear BIQkeyed to the left-hand endof shaft 49, as viewed in Figure 7, through'4 chain 62 (Figure 6). Stud shaft 56 has a-pinion 63 (Figure 6) formed thereonwhich drives a gear S64 vkeyed to the left-hand end of thel apron roller shaft 51, as viewed in Figure 8. Thus-, in operation,`r the rate of drive of the wiper brush,which is driven through pulleys 46 by belt 44 and pulley 45, may be varied by shifting the .positionl of belt. 44 on pulleys 45 and 46. The reductiony afforded by gears so, sI, 63, and s4 (Figure 6) causes the' apron drive shaft 51 to be driven at a much slower rate than the wiper brush 'shaft*49; and thus the wiper brush runs at a high rateof speed'to insure removal of all ofthe fur from the-apron while the apron moves at a slow rate.'` Y

As described hereinabove, gate I2 (Figure 2) is i secured to shaft I8 which extendsthrough bear# ings mountedA on the framework .26. Thus, as.r vshaft I8 is turned, the gate turns with it. `Se

cured to the end of shaft-"I8 is a substantially flat semi-circular segment generally indicated at (Figures 1, 5 and' 8). This segment has a series of ratchet teeth 66 formed along a portion' of its periphery which coact with a pawl, generally indicated at 61, pivotally mounted `o nfapa'wl carrying lever, generally indicated at 68,"to press the gate downwardly on the fur in the hopper with a pulsating action, all as will be described,

hereinafter. l I A Pawl carrying lever 68(Figure 6) lis loosely mounted on the gate shaft I8, so astolberotatlable relative thereto, between theside of the machine and semi-circular segment 65 and hasian arm'12'f'th'ereon mountinga follower roller-1I vwhich rides the periphery of ka cam 10 keyed to the' end of apron drive shaft 51 (Figures 5 and8) `v`Roller' 1I'is held in contact with the cam through i the weight of lever 68, and when the roller 1I follows the surface of cam 10, lever 68 moves upmembers 52 (Figures'l and 7) which vare secured Y wardly 'and downwardly. Pawl 61, which is pivotally'mounted on lever 68 by a pin 13 (Figure 5), coacts with ratchet'. teeth 66 `tomove semicircularisegment j65 rin a clockwise direction as cam 1U moves lever 68 upward to press the gate down on the fur in the 'hopper'. The head 61a of "pawl 61 is preferably adjustable longitudinally` with 'respect to the pawls body 61h, thus per- 15 l to Vbe properly aligned with the last tooth of the mittingthe ratchet engaging portion-of the head ratchet. y

GateA I2 may be manually raised by a lever 14 is bolted on machine framework 20 and pivot- I allysupports an arm 19'which yextends,l to the "right'ofthe machine (Figure 8) into` the path of stop '11 and coacts therewith as will be described.

As 'gate'IZ'is raised,'thecam 'surface 18 of stop 11 moves'ar'm 19 upwardly so that it rides over the stop and then drops in'behind abutment 11a (Figure l). As both semi-circular'segment65 andthe lgate are connected vto shaft I8, varm 19 and stop. 11 hold vthe gate the raised position shown in Figure'l.

y Pawl carrying lever 68A (Figure) preferably extends upwardly above theconnection of pawl f s1 and has a pin `1i.; therein which extends to the right therefrom, as viewed in Figure 8, into the path of movement of pawl 61. Thus, pawl 61 may "bemanuallypivoted counterclockwise, as viewed l f in `Figure 5, vand gravity holds it on pin 16 where Yit is out of engagement with ratchet teeth 66 to permit manual raising of the gate by lever 14 tothe position shown in Figure l.

` Referring now to Figures 2, 3, and 8, a curved shield is mounted on a pair of arcuate-shaped i supports-9| and 92.` These supports are secured tojthe'framework of the machine in any suitable vmannen'rsuch as by screws 9m (Figure 3*) and I close thespaces between the edges of apron I I H"(ligure 8) and the sides `of the machine to pre- "vent fur from being fed by the apron through these spaces.v The curved shield96 is secured to "mi, the, top surfaces of supports 9| and 92 in any si'iitalolernanner. A secondary shield 93 (Figure 3) extends from the top surface of the left-hand portion of shield 90, as viewed in Figure 3, tothe framework `2ll at the top of the machine.k Sec- .ondary shield 93 thus closes the space 4between shield 90 and thetop of the machine. These shields` prevent fur from` entering. the top portion of the machine, 'and` shield 90`guides the fur on the apron as it is fed over the top roller to the brush I3. l f

In operation, hopper Il] (Figure '1) is filled f with fur, and pawl 611sr lowered into contact with 'the ratchet teeth on the periphery of lever 68. Then, when arm 19 israised to, clear abuttion, :and acting .through ratchet fteeth fBB, semi- .'circular .segment dii, and.shaft A8, presses v`gate k2 down on ,the .fur to force the .'fur against .apron il AtIiligure 2') When vthe :pressure-:exerted through :pawl :61 ris relieved, the Aresilience :of

-.apron- .for removing-fur-.fromfsaid hopper as 'said apron .is driven, aplurality of ,-stationaryimem- `the :fu-r .forces the a gate upwardly .so A.that :as :the

`.machine truns, the ,gate presses fdownwardly von :the :iur fin the -fhoppernfwith :a pulsating action .eachftimefcam-lllirevolves ,'Aslthe apron removes the fur from-:the hopper,gravity;pulls the gate downwardly', andthus'whensuicient fur :is ,re-

moved from the hopper to relieve the upward bias of ithe fur aga-inst lthe gate, `the .gate rdoes :not rmove upwardly when athe pressure `.thereon itl-irough-.the pawland ratchet, isreleased. Aclcord-ingly, 4when the lower portion of 'the-.cam

.underrides roller 1.1, pawl :El lra-tchets over .a .ratchet tooth and engages V-another -tooth of ,the

- As the :fur .is pressed Atoward the apron ,by :the

,gate as .described hereinabove, -rod .pins Ma, v.be-

, cause theyf extend beyond .apron ipins .-25 into the .hoppen -hold the 4stratum of ffur adjacent the apronA stationary. Thus, upward lmovement and Tconsequentl-y:circulationof the :fun-in ythe hopper `fis prevented .with ,the exception .of the f-fur snagged. byfzaprompins 2.6 Afrom 4.the inner surface :of the stationary stratum 4of f-ur. As .theapron is driven by the roller, the fur .onihese .apron pins-movesfupwardly -andoventhe .top roller 22, .andthen thefurisbrushedfrom the nowdbwnwa1tdly...dire.cted v.apron ,pins by the ,brushes 54a .of .wiper brush .-I3.. The our .is brushed finto :an

.ont .through .the .bottom ,thereof vto .the blower .or former. illhesides .of this box `mayfoe .madeof V.glassgo .that .the -fur therein Kbeing brushedfrom ithe `.apron .may be kexamined. .This vbox .preferably has a lid 83,.hingediatdpermitting raccess to .the wiper .brush .and to the .interior tof the box. Below vthe bottom roller..23 .is .a trayfgen- ,.erally indicated ,at 85, ,which is :slidably mounted ,von '.the framework of the vlniachine. This tray serves .to .catch any fur dropped .bythe .apron .sothat itmayibe readily returned to the ihopper.

`.'Il'ius,.in operation, circulation `of the ffllrfand thus the formation ,of matted tur balls in .the .hopper 'isprevented lFurthermore, a -fur feeder "is disclosed which `feeds 'fur at a uniform and regular rate. Accordingly, an elicient andgprac- 'tical f'fur feeder has been disclosedin which .the

*objects hereinabove set forth, :aswell as many others, 'are accomplished.

ns many possible embodiments may 'be-made of rthe above invention and as many ychanges might 'be Vmade Ain the embodiment above Aset 'forthjit'isfto'be understood that all matter here- Vinbeore'setiortlfircr Vshown inthe accompanying drawings, isto'be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. In a fur feeder, in combination, a hopper -having an open side, an apron closing said open side, meansfor driving said apron, means onsaid :bers extending longitudinally ,of and positioned `nextxto said apron, and meansformed onsaid '-.stationary members extending outwardly withrespoot to said faproninto the furin said hopper, saidlast-mentioned means holding the stratum of fur adjacent said apron stationary as said fur `removing means on said Vapron shearsiur from -,-thesurface of this stratum.

r2. In a fur feeder, in combination, ahopper having an open side, an apron closing said `open side, means .for driving said apron, aplurality .of -recessesformed in said apron extending 1ongitudinally thereof, a plurality .of n stationary members fitting into the recesses of the portion zof said apron facing said hopper, aplurality of pins mounted 'onfsaid apron .and extending in the direction `in which said apron is driven,.and vaplurality of pins mounted on said stationary members extending outwardly intothefur insaid hopper a substantially greater .distance thanthe .pins.on saidapron, whereby the pinson said vstationary .members hold the stratum .of ,furin which they are positioned stationary -as .sa-id apron ,pins shear fur from thesurface of vvsaid stratum adjacent said apron.

t3. Ina lfur feeder, in combination, a hoper having an open'side, an .apron `closingthie openside of said hopper, said-apron including an endless .belt having a plurality of slats secured 'thereto and -extending transversely thereacross, pin means mounted on said slats `and extending therefrom atv an acute 1angle to 'the portion of esaid #apron traversing the vopenside ylof said :hoppernsaidlpins-extending in the direction of .movement-of said aapronfand a pluralityfostationary .members positioned adjacent to said vapron :having f portions extending outwardly with :respect fto said, apron into the 'hopper .substantiallyiperpen- `.dicularly to theportion-of said belt traversing 'thefopenendbf said hopper into 'the fur in=said hopper, the outwardly. extending `,portions offsaid exhaustlbox,.generally.indicatedatZ,.and passes l i) Stationary members extending 'into 'the fur in tionary fas -said apron pins :shear Y:fur -from *the y vsurface-of saidzstratum adjacent said apron.

4. Yin a 'fur feeder, `in combination, .a hopper, :an apron, means lfor driving .said-apron, :means on said apron `for removing iur -fromsaidhopmer, 'a plurality of stationary members :having .portions extendingoutwardlyzwith respectftofisaid apron into .the fur iin wsaid hopper positioned fin the `fur in y:said hopper-next to said "apron, means -topresssthefur in said hopper against saidapron land said stationary members, :and means pressring said llast-.mentioned'means against the fur .in :said :hopper with a pulsating iaction, said fstationary members holding `the ifiu tinfsaid hopper tvnext'to said apron 4stationary as said iur-removingmeans :on said apron fshears :fur therefrom. 5. vIn "a zfur feeder, :in combination, fa hopper having :an 4open vside, an apron positioned .-in the Iopen -fside of said hopper, means -for driving -said `apron, a plurality .of ystationary lmembers Aextendingthroughout the ,length -of the .open `:side of said hopper adjacent and extending long-itu- .dinally of said apron, a plural-ity .of pins mounted :on Asaid ystationary members extending -out .wardly finto :said .hopper vfrom said apron, dahe ipinsionsaid, stationary lmembers .being positioned ascasrs y in spaced i relationship each otl'renftliroighout the length ,of each ofi-said;V stationary members, and;means on said apron for removing "fur from said hopper, the pins on said stationary members holding the stratum yoffur ladjacent said apron stationary :as the fur removing means:V on said apron shearsfur from-this stratum. l A j 1.6. In a fur feeder, in; combination,a,hopper having :an Aopen side,H an` apron closing said open side, :means forjdriving said apron, means on saidapron for removing fur from said hopper as said apron is driven, means for removing fur from said 'aprongza-plurality of stationary menibers positioned in said hopper extending 'longitudinally of and adjacent to said apron, means formed on said stationary members extending outwardly into the fur in said hopper, said hopper having an opening in the top thereof, and a gate positioned in said hopper, said gate through the force of gravity pressing said fur against said last-mentioned means and said apron.

7. In a fur feeder, in combination, a hopper having an open side, an apron closing said open side, means for driving said apron, a plurality of recesses formed in said apron extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of stationary members tting into the recesses of the portion of said apron facing said hopper, a plurality of pins mounted on said apron and extending in the direction in which the apron is driven, a plurality of pins mounted on said stationary members extending outwardly into the fur in said hopper a substantially greater distance than the pins on said apron, a gate positioned within said hopper, said gate acting through the force of gravity pressing the fur in said hopper against the pins on said stationary* members and against the pins on said apron, and a wiper' brush for removing fur from said apron.

8. In a fur feeder, in combination, a hopper having an open side, an apron of the endless type adapted to close said open side, means for driving said apron, a plurality of supports positioned behind the portion of said apron closing the open side of said hopper, said support supporting the portion `of said apron facing `said hopper, means on said apron for removing fur from said hopper, a plurality of stationary members positioned in the fur in said hopper adjacent said apron, said stationary members having portions extending outwardly into the fur in said hopper substantially perpendicularly to said apron, a gate, said gate pressing the fur in said hopper against the outwardlyvextending portions of said sta` tionary members and said apron, and means to press said gate downwardly against the fur in said hoper with a pulsating action.

9. In a fur feeder, in combination, a hopper, an apron, means1 for driving said apron, means on said apron for removingfur from said hop.

per, a plurality of stationary members positioned in the fur adjacent said apron to prevent ciragain` movessaid' gate` with: ai; pulsating laction against the fur,in-,saidjhopper 4H10, In a fur feeder, in combination, a'hopper, means for removing fur from s aid hopper,la plu` rality of members positioned' inthe fura-next' to saidrqfurgremovmg means, pin means mounted Jon said members extending outwardly with respect tosaid apronfintof-the fur;.in said hopper substantially perpendicularlytcsaidfur removing means, said pin means preventingfthe `circulation of fur in said hopper as .said fur removing lmeans removes vfur therefrom, andmeans to press the fur ingsaid hopper toward said members and against said fur removing means.

11. In a 'fur feeder, in combination, a hopper having an open side, an apron closing said open side, means for driving said apron, means on said apron for removing fur'from said hopper as said apron is driven, a plurality of stationary members extending longitudinally of and positioned next to said apron, and pin means formed on said stationary members extending outwardly into the fur in saidhopper substantially at right angles to said apron, said last-mentioned means holding the stratum of fur adjacent said apron stationary as said fur removing means on said apron shears fur from the surface of this stratum.

12. In a fur feederin combination, a hopper having an open side, an apron closing said open culaton of the fur in said hopper as said furv removing means on said apron removes fur from said hopper, a gate positioned in said hopper pressing the fur therein against said apron land said stationary members, a ratchet member operatively connected to said gate, and a reciprocating pawl member, said reciprocating pawl side, 'means for driving said apron, means on said apron for removing furt from said hopper as said apron is driven, means for removing fur from said apron, a plurality of recesses formed lin said apron extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of members fitting into the recesses of the portion of said apron facing said hopper, means on said members'extending outwardlyrinto fur in said hopper, and means for pressing the fur in said hopper toward said last-mentionedmeans and against said apron.

13. In a fur feeder, in combination, a hopper having a substantially vertical open side, an apron closing said open side, means for driving said apron, means on said apron for removing fur from said hopper as said apron is driven, means y for removing fur from said apron, a plurality of members positioned in said hopper extending longitudinally of and positioned adjacent to said apron, means onsaid members extending outwardly into the fur in said hopper, said hopper having an opening in the top thereof, and a gate positioned in said hopper, said gate being pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of the open side of said hopper and acting through the force of gravity to press thel fur in said hopper toward said last-mentioned means and against said apron.

14. In a fur feeder, in combination, a hopper, an apron, means for driving said apron, means on said apron for removing fur from said hopper', a plurality of members positioned in the fur -next to` said apron and extending longitudinally thereof, pin means on said lmembers extending outwardly with respect to said apron into the fur in said hopper for preventing circulation of fur in said hopper as said fur removing means removes fur from said hopper, a gate positioned in said hopper and pressing the fur therein toward said pin means and against said apron, and means to press said gate against the fur in said hopper with a pulsating action.

15. In a fur feeder, in combination, a hopper, an apron, means for driving said apron, means on said apron for removing fur from said hop- Shaving` portions extending outwardly Withrespect to. said apron into theI fus in said hopper,4 saldi last-mentioned portions holding the stratum oa fur in which. they are positioned:,stationaryJ asl saidA fur-.removingAv means o'n said apron shears. furrfrom the surface of said stratum-nextftosad apron, means to press the fur in saidf hopper-l toward saidA apron, and means to remove fun from said apron.

16. Inv a furpfeeder, iii-combination, a hopper; an apron means fer drvngfsaid apron, means per, a pluralityl of ,members positioned in the-lian in said hopper next tol said apron, said members-f on-sada1pron-forremovnglrm trom saiheppes, saidhoppen havinga-n opening-i1'sth@b t0? Apmil'm, a gate positioned.l in the Opern-n@ inl thstopL o# saidheppe1=-and pressingv downwardly-upen th'ef fura in said: hopper-through the- :tationsv of gravity;, meanstoL operate.` sai'el gate a pulsa-amarante tion against the-fu-lnsaid l'iopper;` andlva. plu-- ltality of: stationary-members' positioned in IJehe fun in saidA hopper adacent--saich apron-"to pm vent circulation of tne-ur'insaidhopperf as sam means` on said-` apronremoves: fur. tllerefmm;4

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